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Gloucester 14 Bath 20: Barkley turns tide to end Gloucester run

BATH were ecstatic on the final whistle. They had overcome the loss of Robbie Fleck to record a dramatic victory and inflict Gloucester’s first home defeat in 34 games.

South African centre Fleck, in only his second game for Bath, was carried from the field a minute after half-time with a broken leg. At that stage Bath were losing 14-13, but no sooner had Fleck departed than Bath produced their stunning match-winning try. From a ruck 40m out, Olly Barkley ran powerfully for the gap. He fed Andrew Higgins, and replacement centre Robbie Kydd grounded the ball with his first touch. Barkley converted, and despite missing two kickable penalties, Bath withstood five minutes of intense pressure at the death to record a memorable victory.

It was all a far cry from the first 15 minutes, when Bath were in danger of being over-run. Henry Paul kicked two penalties, and a